Inbred corn line PHRE1

ABSTRACT

According to the invention, there is provided an inbred corn line, designated PHRE1. This invention thus relates to the plants and seeds of inbred corn line PHRE1 and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line PHRE1 with itself or with another corn plant. This invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PHRE1 with another corn line or plant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of corn breeding, specifically relating to an inbred corn line designated PHRE1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Plant Breeding

Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of the plant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower on a different plant.

Corn plants (Zea mays L.) can be bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Corn has separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on the tassel and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in corn when wind blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude from the tops of the incipient ears.

The development of a hybrid corn variety involves three steps: (1) the selection of plants from various germplasm pools; (2) the selfing of the selected plants for several generation to produce a series of inbred lines, which, although different from each other, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbred lines with unrelated inbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny (F₁). During the inbreeding process in corn, the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor is restored when two unrelated inbred lines are crossed to produce the hybrid progeny. An important consequence of the homozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between any two inbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give a superior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents is maintained.

The objective of commercial maize inbred line development programs is to develop new inbred lines that combine to produce high grain yields and superior agronomic performance in hybrid combination. The primary trait breeders seek is yield. However, other major agronomic traits are of importance in hybrid combination and have an impact on yield or otherwise provide superior performance in hybrid combinations. Such traits include percent grain moisture at harvest, relative maturity, resistance to stalk breakage, resistance to root lodging, grain quality, and disease and insect resistance. In addition the lines per se must have acceptable performance for parental traits such as seed yields, kernel sizes, pollen production, all of which affect ability to provide parental lines in sufficient quantity and quality for hybridization. Traits have been shown to be under genetic control and many if not all of the traits are affected by multiple genes. Thus, to be selected as an inbred line, the inbred must be able to combine such that the desired traits are passed to the hybrid and also be able to satisfy production requirements as a parental line.

Pedigree Breeding

The pedigree method of breeding is the mostly widely used methodology for new inbred line development.

In general terms this procedure consists of crossing two inbred lines to produce the non-segregating F₁ generation, and self pollination of the F₁ generation to produce the F₂ generation that segregates for all factors for which the inbred parents differ. An example of this process is set forth below. Variations of this generalized pedigree method are used, but all these variations produce a segregating generation which contains a range of variation for the traits of interest.

EXAMPLE 1 Hypothetical Example of Pedigree Breeding Program

Consider a cross between two inbred lines that differ for alleles at five loci.

The parental genotypes are: ##STR1## the F₁ from a cross between these two parents is: ##STR2## Selfing F₁ will produce an F₂ generation including the following genotypes: ##STR3##

The number of genotypes in the F₂ is 3⁶ for six segregating loci (729) and will produce (2⁶)-2 possible new inbreds, (62 for six segregating loci).

Each inbred parent which is used in breeding crosses represents a unique combination of genes, and the combined effects of the genes define the performance of the inbred and its performance in hybrid combination. There is published evidence (Smith, O. S., J. S. C. Smith, S. L. Bowen, R. A. Tenborg and S. J. Wall, TAG 80: 833-840 (1990)) that each of these lines are different and can be uniquely identified on the basis of genetically-controlled molecular markers.

It has been shown (Hallauer, Arnel R. and Miranda, J. B. Fo. Quantitative Genetics in Maize Breeding, Iowa State University Press, Ames Iowa (1981)) that most traits of economic value in maize are under the genetic control of multiple genetic loci, and that there are a large number of unique combinations of these genes present in elite maize germplasm. If not, genetic progress using elite inbred lines would no longer be possible. Studies by Duvick and Russell (Duvick, D. N. Maydica 37: 69-79 (1992); Russell, W. A. Maydica XXIX:375-390 (1983)) have shown that over the last 50 years the rate of genetic progress in commercial hybrids has been between 1 and 2% per year.

The number of genes affecting the trait of primary economic importance in maize, grain yield, has been estimated to be in the range of 10-1000. Inbred lines which are used as parents for breeding crosses differ in the number and combination of these genes. These factors make the plant breeder's task more difficult. Compounding this is evidence that no one line contains the favorable allele at all loci, and that different alleles have different economic values depending on the genetic background and field environment in which the hybrid is grown. Fifty years of breeding experience shows that there are many genes affecting grain yield and each of these has a relatively small effect on this trait. The effects are small compared to breeders' ability to measure grain yield differences in evaluation trails. Therefore, the parents of the breeding cross must differ at several of these loci so that the genetic differences in the progeny will be large enough that breeders can develop a line that increases the economic worth of its hybrids over that of hybrids made with either parent.

If the number of loci segregating in a cross between two inbred lines is n, the number of unique genotypes in the F₂ generation is 3^(n) (Table 2) and the number of unique inbred lines from this cross is {(2^(n)) -2}. Only a very limited number of these combinations are useful. Only about 1 in 10,000 of the progeny from F₂ 's are commercially useful

By way of example, if it is assumed that the number of segregating loci in F₂ is somewhere between 20 and 50, and that each parent is fixed for half the favorable alleles, it is then possible to calculate approximate probabilities of finding an inbred that has the favorable allele at {(n/2)+m} loci, where n/2 is the number of favorable alleles in each of the parents and m is the number of additional favorable alleles in the new inbred. See Example 2 below. The number m is assumed to be greater than three because each allele has so small an effect that evaluation techniques are not sensitive enough to detect differences due to three or less favorable alleles. The probabilities in Example 2 are on the order of 10⁻⁵ or smaller and they are the probabilities that at least one genotype with (n/2)+m favorable alleles will exist.

To put this in perspective the number of plants grown on 60 million acres (approximate US corn acreage) at 25000 plants/acre is 1.5×10¹².

EXAMPLE 2 Probability of Finding an Inbreed with m of n Favorable Alleles

Assume each parent has n/2 of the favorable alleles and only 1/2 of the combinations of loci are economically useful.

    ______________________________________                                         no. of   no. favorable                                                                             no. additional                                                                               Probability                                  segregating                                                                             alleles in favorable alleles                                                                            that genotype                                loci (n) Parents (n/2)                                                                             in new inbred occurs*                                      ______________________________________                                         20       10         14            3 × 10.sup.-5                          24       12         16            2 × 10.sup.-5                          28       14         18            1 × 10.sup.-5                          32       16         20            8 × 10.sup.-6                          36       18         22            5 × 10.sup.-6                          40       20         24            3 × 10.sup.-6                          44       22         26            2 × 10.sup.-6                          48       24         28            1 × 10.sup.-6                          ______________________________________                                          *Probability that a useful combination exists, does not include the            probability of identifying this combination if it does exist.            

The possibility of having a usably high probability of actually being able to identify this genotype based on replicated field testing would be most likely smaller than this, and is a function of how large a population of genotypes is tested and how testing resources are allocated in the testing program.

At Pioneer Hi-Bred International, a typical corn research station has a staff of four, and 20 acres of breeding nursery. Those researchers plant those 20 acres with 25,000 nursery rows, 15,000 yield test plots in 10-15 yield test sites, and one or two disease-screening nurseries. Employing a temporary crew of 20 to 30 pollinators, the station makes about 65,000 hand pollinations per growing season. Thus, one of the largest plant breeding programs in the world does not have a sufficiently large breeding population to be able to rely upon "playing the numbers" to obtain successful research results. Nevertheless, Pioneer's breeders at each station produce from three to ten new inbreds which are proposed for commercial use each year. Over the 32 Pioneer research stations in North America, this amounts to from about 100 to 300 new inbreds proposed for use, and less than 50 and more commonly less than 30 of these inbreds that actually satisfy the performance criteria for commercial use.

This is a result of plant breeders using their skills, experience, and intuitive ability to select inbreds having the necessary qualities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred corn line, designated PHRE1. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbred corn line PHRE1, to the plants of inbred corn line PHRE1, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing the inbred line PHRE1 with itself or another corn line. This invention further relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PHRE1 with another corn line.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and examples that follow, a number of terms are used herein. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided. ABS is in absolute terms and % MN is percent of the mean for the experiments in which the inbred or hybrid was grown.

BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that were not barren (lack ears).

BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near the time of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid or inbred would snap or break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Data are presented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Actual yield of the grain at harvest in bushels per acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of dropped ears per plot and represents the percentage of plants that did not drop ears prior to harvest.

EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to the highest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured in inches.

EAR SZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higher the rating the larger the ear size.

EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishment in the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on a per plot basis for the inbred or hybrid.

GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heat units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the time of planting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method, where the heat units for a 24-hour period are: ##EQU1##

The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowest minimum temperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certain number of GDUs to reach various stages of plant development.

GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants with silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition.

GRN APP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the general appearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factors as the color of the harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any cracked grain. High scores indicate good grain quality.

MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture of the grain at harvest.

PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant from the ground to the tip of the tassel in inches.

POL SC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount of pollen shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed.

POL WT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tassels collected as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tassels harvested after shedding is complete.

It should be understood that the inbred can, through routine manipulation of cytoplasmic factors, be produced in a cytoplasmic male-sterile form which is otherwise phenotypically identical to the male-fertile form.

PRM=PREDICTED RM. This trait, predicted relative maturity (RM), is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relative maturity rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standard linear regression analyses and is referred to as the Comparative Relative Maturity Rating System which is similar to the Minnesota Relative Maturity Rating System.

RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that do not root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at an approximately 30° angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

SCT GRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount of scatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on the ear. The higher the score the less scatter grain.

SDG VGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of the amount of vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage (approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor.

SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a single measure of the hybrid's worth based on information for up to five traits. A corn breeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selection index. One of the traits that is almost always included is yield. The selection index data presented in the tables represent the mean value averaged across testing stations.

STA GRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health near the time of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high score indicates better late-season plant health.

STK CNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number of plants per plot.

STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did not stalk lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodging or pushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that break below the ear.

TAS BLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measure the degree of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel at time of flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blasting at time of flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting.

TAS SZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate the relative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger the tassel.

TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel (grams) just prior to pollen shed.

TEX EAR=EAR TEXTURE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate the relative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 would be very soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or very smooth crown).

TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot that could possibly shed pollen was taken. Data is given as percentage of tillers: number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants per plot.

TST WT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of the grain in pounds for a given volume (bushel).

TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT ADJUSTED. The measure of the weight of the grain in pounds for a given volume (bushel) adjusted for percent moisture.

YLD=YIELD. It is the same as BU ACR ABS.

YLD SC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give a relative rating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the rating the greater visual yield appearance.

MDM CPX=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus & MCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus): Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

SLF BLT=Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis, Helminthosporium maydis): Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

NLF BLT=Northern Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum, H. turcicum): Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

COM RST=Common Rust (Puccinia sorghi): Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

GLF SPT=Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis): Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

STW WLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii): Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

HD SMT=Head Smut (Sphacelotheca reiliana): Percentage of plants that did not have infection.

EAR MLD=General Ear Mold: Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant. This is based on overall rating for ear mold of mature ears without determining specific mold organism, and may not be predictive for a specific ear mold.

ECB DPE=Dropped ears due to European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis): Percentage of plants that did not drop ears under second brood corn borer infestation.

ECB 2SC=European Corn Borer Second Brood (Ostrinia nubilalis): Visual rating (1-9 score) of post flowering damage due to infestation by European Corn Borer. A "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

ECB 1LF=European Corn Borer First Brood (Ostrinia nubilalis): Visual rating (1-9 score) of pre-flowering leaf feeding by European Corn Borer. A "1" is very susceptible and a "9" is very resistant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

PHRE1 was selected and kept because of its ability to cross with other inbreds and produce single-cross hybrids which exhibited significant yield advantage. PHRE1 has the ability to cross with elite inbreds, of later maturities, to produce superior performing hybrids in later maturity zones. The ability of an early inbred (PHRE1) to cross with later inbreds to produce hybrids of later maturity, which show a yield advantage in later maturities is unique and can only be found by extensive research. This is to say, to have an early inbred which can contribute favorable alleles for single cross yield corn in later maturities is unique and valuable. This is opposed to a narrow band of maturities, as we attempt to exploit the favorable alleles found in PHRE1. It allows for more opportunity to cross and evaluate hybrids with significant yield performance over a wide range of maturity. It also allows for more opportunity in developing breeding crosses which give rise to the next generation of superior parents.

Inbred corn line PHRE1 is a yellow, dent corn inbred that provides an acceptable female parental line in crosses for producing first generation F1 corn hybrids. PHRE1 is adapted to most regions of the United States. PHRE1 hybrids exhibit high yield potential, generally good agronomic traits, and respond very well to high yield environments. PHRE1 has a wide area of adaptation. It appears to have the ability to cross with inbreds of later maturity and offers high yield potential in later maturities, something which has not previously occurred. PHRE1 is unique genetically and offers the opportunity for the plant breeder to create distinctly unique hybrids which are profitable to produce, and profitable for the farmer to grow.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence for all the traits as described in the Variety Description Information (Table 1) that follows. Most of the data in the Variety Description information was collected at Johnston, Iowa. The inbred has been self-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generations with careful attention paid to uniformity of plant type to ensure homozygosity and phenotypic stability. The line has been increased both by hand and in isolated fields with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits have been observed or are expected in PHRE1.

Inbred corn line PHRE1, being substantially homozygous, can be reproduced by planting seeds of the line, growing the resulting corn plants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions with adequate isolation, and harvesting the resulting seed, using techniques familiar to the agricultural arts.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION                                                INBRED = PHRE1                                                                 Type: Dent Region Best Adapted: MOST REGIONS                                   ______________________________________                                         A.  Maturity:         Average across maturity zones.                               Zone:             0                                                            Heat Unit Shed:   1250                                                         Heat Unit Silk:   1250                                                         No. Reps:         39                                                        ##STR4##                                                                       *If maximum is greater than 86 degrees fahrenheit, then 86 is used and if      minimum is less than 50, then 50 is used. Heat units accumulated daily an      can not be less than 0.                                                  

    B.  Plant Characteristics:                                                         Plant height (to tassel tip):                                                                    160 cm                                                       Length of top ear internode:                                                                     12 cm                                                        Number of ears per stalk:                                                                        SINGLE                                                       Ear height        64 cm                                                        (to base of top ear):                                                          Number of tillers:                                                                               NONE                                                         Cytoplasm type:   NORMAL                                                   C.  Leaf                                                                           Color:            (B14) DARK GREEN                                             Angle from Stalk: 30-60 degrees                                                Marginal Waves:   (WF9) FEW                                                    Number of Leaves  17                                                           (mature plants):                                                               Sheath Pubescence:                                                                               (W22) LIGHT                                                  Longitudinal Creases:                                                                            (OH56A) FEW                                                  Length (Ear node leaf):                                                                          61 cm                                                        Width (widest point,                                                                             9 cm                                                         ear node leaf):                                                            D.  Tassel:                                                                        Number lateral branches:                                                                         4                                                            Branch Angle from >45 degrees                                                  central spike:                                                                 Pollen Shed:      Light based on Pollen                                                          Yield Test                                                                     (77% of experiment means)                                    Peduncle Length   14 cm                                                        (top leaf to basal branches):                                                  Anther Color:     YELLOW                                                       Glume Color:      GREEN                                                    E.  Ear (Husked Ear Data                                                           Except When Stated                                                             Otherwise):                                                                    Length:           14 cm                                                        Weight:           103 gm                                                       Mid-point Diameter:                                                                              38 mm                                                        Silk Color:       YELLOW                                                       Husk Extension    MEDIUM                                                       (Harvest stage):                                                               (Barely Covering Ear)                                                          Husk Leaf:        SHORT (<8 cm)                                                Taper of Ear:     SLIGHT                                                       Position of Shank UPRIGHT                                                      (dry husks):                                                                   Kernel Rows:      STRAIGHT DISTINCT                                                              Number = 14                                                  Husk Color (fresh):                                                                              LIGHT GREEN                                                  Husk Color (dry): BUFF                                                         Shank Length:     8 cm                                                         Shank (No. of internodes):                                                                       7                                                        F.  Kernel (Dried):                                                                Size (from ear mid-point)                                                      Length:           10 mm                                                        Width:            8 mm                                                         Thick:            5 mm                                                         Shape Grade (% rounds):                                                                          20-40 (27% medium round                                                        based on Parent Test Data)                                   Pericarp Color:   COLORLESS                                                    Aleurone Color:   HOMOZYGOUS YELLOW                                            Endosperm Color:  YELLOW                                                       Endosperm Type:   NORMAL STARCH                                                Gm Wt/100 Seeds (unsized):                                                                       26 gm                                                    G.  Cob:                                                                           Diameter at mid-point:                                                                           23 mm                                                        Strength:         WEAK                                                         Color:            RED                                                      H.  Diseases:                                                                      N. Leaf Blight (E. turcicum):                                                                    INTERMEDIATE                                                 Common Rust (P. sorghi):                                                                         HIGHLY RESISTANT                                             Goss's Wilt (C. nebraskense):                                                                    RESISTANT                                                    Common Smut (U. maydis):                                                                         HIGHLY RESISTANT                                             Head Smut (S. reiliana):                                                                         HIGHLY RESISTANT                                             Fusarium Ear Mold RESISTANT                                                    (F. moniliforme):                                                          I.  Insects:                                                                       European Corn Borer-1                                                                            SUSCEPTIBLE                                                  Leaf Damage                                                                    (Pre-flowering):                                                               European Corn Borer-2                                                                            SUSCEPTIBLE                                                  (Post-flowering):                                                           The above descriptions are based on a scale of 1-9, 1 being highly             susceptible, 9 being highly resistant.                                         S (Susceptible): Would generally represent a score of 1-3.                     I (Intermediate): Would generally represent a score of 4-5.                    R (Resistant): Would generally represent a score of 6-7.                       H (Highly Resistant): Would generally represent a score of 8-9. Highly         resistant does not imply the inbred is immune.                                J.  Variety Most                                                                   Closely Resembling:                                                            Character         Inbred                                                       Maturity          PHJ40                                                        Usage             PHJ40                                                     PHJ40 (PVP Certificate No. 8600133) is a Pioneer HiBred International,         Inc. proprietary inbred.                                                       Data for Items B, C, D, E, F, and G is based primarily on a maximum of 4       reps from Johnston, Iowa grown in 1991 and 1992, plus description              information from the maintaining station.                                

ELECTROPHORESIS RESULTS Isozyme Genotypes for PHRE1

Isozyme data were generated for inbred corn line PHRE1 according to the procedures described in Stuber, C. W., Wendel, J. F., Goodman, M. M., and Smith, J. S. C., "Techniques and Scoring Procedures for Starch Gel Electrophoresis of Enzymes from Maize (Zea mays L.)", Technical Bulletin No. 286, North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. (1988).

The data in Table 2 compares PHRE1 with its parents, PHJ40 and PHR47.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         ELECTROPHORESIS RESULTS FOR PHRE1                                              AND ITS PARENTS PHJ40 AND PHR47                                                                 PARENTS                                                       LOCI     PHRE1         PHJ40   PHR47                                           ______________________________________                                         ACP1     4             2       4                                               ADH1     4             4       6                                               CAT3     9             9       9                                               DIA1     8             8       8                                               GOT1     4             4       4                                               GOT2     4             4       4                                               GOT3     4             4       4                                               IDH1     4             4       4                                               IDH2     6             6       6                                               MDH1     6             6       6                                               MDH2     6             6       6                                               MDH3     16            16      16                                              MDH4     12            12      12                                              MDH5     12            12      12                                              MMM      4             4       8                                               PGM1     9             9       9                                               PGM2     4             4       4                                               PGD1       3.8           3.8     3.8                                           PGD2     5             5       5                                               PHI1     4             4       4                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3 Inbred and Hybrid Performance of PHRE1

In the examples that follow, the traits and characteristics of inbred corn line PHRE1 are given as a line in comparison with other inbreds and in hybrid combination. The data collected on inbred line PHRE1 is presented for the key characteristics and traits.

The results in Table 3A compare PHRE1 to its PHJ40 parent. PHRE1 has slightly higher yield and significantly higher grain harvest moisture. PHRE1 is a shorter inbred with lower ear placement and flowers similarly to PHJ40. PHRE1 has better resistance to ear mold, northern leaf blight, and first brood European corn borer than PHJ40.

Table 3B compares PHRE1 to its PHR47 parent. PHRE1 and PHR47 have similar yield, however, PHRE1 has lower grain moisture at harvest and higher test weight. PHRE1 is a significantly shorter inbred with lower ear placement and flowers (GDU Shed and GDU Silk) significantly earlier than PHR47.

The results in Table 3C show PHRE1 has significantly higher yield and test weight than PHN37. PHRE1 is shorter with lower ear placement and flowers (GDU Shed and GDU Silk) earlier than PHN37. PHRE1 has better ear texture and fewer scatter grain than PHN37.

Table 4 compares PHRE1 to PHJ40 when both are crossed to the same inbred testers. The results show the PHRE1 hybrids have higher yield and lower grain harvest moisture than the PHJ40 hybrids. The hybrids are similar in height, but the PHRE1 hybrids have higher ear placement.

Table 5A compares PHRE1 to PHR47 when both are crossed to the same inbred. The hybrids have similar yield, but the PHRE1 hybrid has significantly lower grain harvest moisture. The PHRE1 hybrid has poorer staygreen, but better grain appearance compared to the PHR47 hybrid. The PHRE1 hybrid is shorter with lower ear placement and sheds (GDU Shed) earlier than the PHR47 hybrid.

Table 5B compares PHRE1 to PHJ40 when both are crossed to the same inbred. The PHRE1 hybrid and the PHR40 hybrid have similar yield and grain harvest moisture, but the PHRE1 hybrid has lower test weight. The hybrids have similar stalk lodging resistance, but the PHRE1 hybrid has better root lodging resistance. The PHRE1 hybrid and the PHJ40 hybrid are similar in height, but the PHRE1 hybrid has lower ear placement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 compares the yield of PHRE1 and PHJ40. PHRE1 is a higher yielding inbred across environments than PHJ40. Both inbreds have slightly above average yield in low yielding environments, but are below average yielding in high yield environments.

                                      TABLE 3A                                     __________________________________________________________________________     PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                  VARIETY #1 - PHRE1                                                             VARIETY #2 - PHJ40                                                                      BU  BU   YLD          EAR  BAR PLT    EAR   SDG   EST                      VAR ACR ACR  SC     MST   SZ   PLT HT     HT    VGR   CNT                 DEPT #   ABS % MN ABS    ABS   ABS  ABS ABS    ABS   ABS   ABS                 __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL                                                                               1   70.4                                                                               101  6.3    18.8  5.4  92.2                                                                               63.6   26.1  5.9   40.7                SUM  2   67.2                                                                               95   6.3    17.8  5.3  92.3                                                                               65.5   28.3  5.3   40.1                     LOCS                                                                               30  30   14     35    8    34  41     41    38    84                       REPS                                                                               96  96   15     96    8    47  77     79    60    185                      DIFF                                                                               3.2 5    0.0    0.9   0.1  0.0 1.9    2.2   0.6   0.6                      PROB                                                                               .111                                                                               .073*                                                                               .000#  .001# .685 .978                                                                               .007#  .000# .019+ .301                __________________________________________________________________________                      DRP TIL GDU  GDU   POL POL POL  TAS TAS TEX                                VAR EAR LER SHD  SLK   WT  WT  SC   BLS SZ  EAR                           DEPT #   ABS ABS ABS  ABS   ABS % MN                                                                               ABS  ABS ABS ABS                   __________________________________________________________________________             TOTAL                                                                               1   99.9                                                                               1.3 1185 1183  100.1                                                                              79  5.3  9.0 4.5 5.4                           SUM  2   99.7                                                                               1.9 1181 1195  109.0                                                                              87  4.9  8.8 4.6 6.9                                LOCS                                                                               18  44  61   50    9   9   27   5   19  7                                  REPS                                                                               42  83  92   64    17  17  40   9   20  7                                  DIFF                                                                               0.2 0.6 04   12    8.9 8   0.4  0.2 0.1 1.4                                PROB                                                                               .205                                                                               .268                                                                               2.59 .013+ .421                                                                               .353                                                                               .059*                                                                               .374                                                                               .772                                                                               .008#                 __________________________________________________________________________                      TST GRN SCT STA STK   RT  EAR  NLF  ECB   ECB                              VAR WT  APP GRN GRN LDG   LDG MLD  BLT  1LF   2SC                         DEPT #   ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS   ABS ABS  ABS  ABS   ABS                 __________________________________________________________________________             TOTAL                                                                               1   58.9                                                                               6.2 8.1 4.1 94.3  91.1                                                                               7.8  4.9  4.0   3.3                         SUM  2   58.6                                                                               6.0 7.8 4.0 96.7  97.6                                                                               7.2  4.1  3.2   4.0                              LOCS                                                                               30  17  14  13  20    8   12   7    16    8                                REPS                                                                               93  35  15  25  50    17  13   7    16    12                               DIFF                                                                               0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 2.4   6.4 0.7  0.7  0.8   0.8                              PROB                                                                               .215                                                                               .300                                                                               .302                                                                               .712                                                                               .030+ .127                                                                               .054*                                                                               .094*                                                                               .043+ .149                __________________________________________________________________________      * = 10% SIG                                                                    + = 5% SIG                                                                     # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 3B                                     __________________________________________________________________________     PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                  VARIETY #1 = PHRE1                                                             VARIETY #2 = PHR47                                                                      BU  BU  YLD     EAR BAR PLT   EAR   SDG   EST                              VAR ACR ACR SC  MST SZ  PLT HT    HT    VGR   CNT                         DEPT #   ABS % MN                                                                               ABS ABS ABS ABS ABS   ABS   ABS   ABS                         __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL                                                                               1   77.7                                                                               111 5.0 14.6                                                                               4.8 86.7                                                                               62.1  25.1  6.0   26.5                        SUM  2   78.3                                                                               113 5.6 18.7                                                                               6.0 87.5                                                                               84.8  34.7  4.8   26.5                             LOCS                                                                               3   3   8   4   4   15  13    13    20    36                               REPS                                                                               6   6   9   7   4   18  17    17    23    82                               DIFF                                                                               0.6 2   0.6 4.1 1.3 0.8 22.7  9.5   1.2   0.1                              PROB                                                                               .964                                                                               .921                                                                               .370                                                                               .133                                                                               .194 .847                                                                          .000#                                                                              .000# .005# .910                              __________________________________________________________________________                    TIL GDU   GDU   POL   TAS                                                                               TAS   TEX TST                                     VAR LER SHD   SLK   SC    BLS                                                                               SZ    EAR WT                           DEPT       #   ABS ABS   ABS   ABS   ABS                                                                               ABS   ABS ABS                          __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL      1   1.7 1190  1198  4.3   9.0                                                                               4.7   5.0 62.0                         SUM        2   1.4 1379  1412  5.7   9.0                                                                               5.7   5.5 57.5                                    LOCS                                                                               16  28    26    7     1  10    4   3                                       REPS                                                                               20  31    28    8     1  11    4   6                                       DIFF                                                                               0.3 189   214   1.4   0.0                                                                               1.0   0.5 4.5                                     PROB                                                                               .771                                                                               .000# .000# .008#    .032+ .604                                                                               .051*                        __________________________________________________________________________                      GRN                                                                               SCT STA   STK RT EAR NLF ECB ECB                                        VAR APP                                                                               GRN GRN   LDG LDG                                                                               MLD BLT 1LF 2SC                                   DEPT #   ABS                                                                               ABS ABS   ABS ABS                                                                               ABS ABS ABS ABS                           __________________________________________________________________________             TOTAL                                                                               1   5.0                                                                               6.6 2.2   94.7                                                                               95.2                                                                              6.8 4.2 4.1 3.0                                   SUM  2   5.0                                                                               5.6 6.1   96.2                                                                               89.5                                                                              7.2 5.4 4.5 6.0                                        LOCS                                                                               1  7   5     3   1  6   5   12  4                                          REPS                                                                               1  8   8     6   1  7   5   12  4                                          DIFF                                                                               0.0                                                                               1.0 3.9   1.5 5.8                                                                               0.3 1.2 0.4 3.0                                        PROB   .442                                                                               .000# .789   .721                                                                               .324                                                                               .376                                                                               .000#                         __________________________________________________________________________      * =  10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                     # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 3C                                     __________________________________________________________________________     PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA                                                  VARIETY #1 - PHRE1                                                             VARIETY #2 - PHN37                                                                      BU     BU    YLD       EAR  BAR PLT    EAR  SDG   EST                      VAR ACR    ACR   SC    MST SZ   PLT HT     HT   VGR   CNT                 DEPT #   ABS    % MN  ABS   ABS ABS  ABS ABS    ABS  ABS   ABS                 __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL                                                                               1   77.7   111   5.7   15.7                                                                               5.0  97.7                                                                               63.0   24.5 6.4   36.3                SUM  2   44.1   63    4.1   14.4                                                                               4.6  94.3                                                                               73.6   22.6 5.6   35.7                     LOCS                                                                               3      3     7     3   5    6   14     14   16    25                       REPS                                                                               6      6     7     6   5    9   17     17   19    32                       DIFF                                                                               33.6   49    1.6   1.3 0.4  3.3 10.6   1.8  0.8   0.6                      PROB                                                                               .015+  .019+ .081* .123                                                                               .477 .418                                                                               .000#  .077*                                                                               .098* .595                __________________________________________________________________________                            TIL GDU  GDU   POL POL POL TAS                                                                               TAS TEX                                      VAR LER SHD  SLK   WT  WT  SC  BLS                                                                               SZ  EAR                                 DEPT #   ABS ABS  ABS   ABS % MN                                                                               ABS ABS                                                                               ABS ABS                   __________________________________________________________________________                   TOTAL                                                                               1   1.0 1202 1202  113.7                                                                              84  5.7 9.0                                                                               5.1 5.0                                 SUM  2   0.6 1227 1267  107.9                                                                              80  5.8 9.0                                                                               4.9 3.3                                      LOCS                                                                               16  25   23    2   2   9   1  7   6                                        REPS                                                                               22  31   28    4   4   13  2  7   6                                        DIFF                                                                               0.5 25   65    5.8 4   0.2 0.0                                                                               0.3 1.7                                      PROB                                                                               .315                                                                               .051*                                                                               .000# .690                                                                               .722                                                                               .710   .522                                                                               .020+                 __________________________________________________________________________                            TST   GRN                                                                               SCT   STA STK RT EAR NLF                                                                               ECB ECB                                   VAR WT    APP                                                                               GRN   GRN LDG LDG                                                                               MLD BLT                                                                               1LF 2SC                              DEPT #   ABS   ABS                                                                               ABS   ABS ABS ABS                                                                               ABS ABS                                                                               ABS ABS                __________________________________________________________________________                   TOTAL                                                                               1   62.0  5.0                                                                               8.2   1.7 94.7                                                                               95.2                                                                              7.8 1.0                                                                               3.2 2.0                              SUM  2   55.7  5.0                                                                               5.8   1.3 96.8                                                                               95.4                                                                              6.2 1.0                                                                               2.5 4.0                                   LOCS                                                                               3     1  6     3   3   1  5   1  6   1                                     REPS                                                                               6     1  6     6   6   1  5   1  6   1                                     DIFF                                                                               6.3   0.0                                                                               2.3   0.3 2.1 0.2                                                                               1.6 0.0                                                                               0.7 2.0                                   PROB                                                                               .010+    .017+ .184                                                                               .689   .294   .394                   __________________________________________________________________________      * = 10% SIG                                                                    + = 5% SIG                                                                     # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     AVERAGE INBRED BY TESTER PERFORMANCE COMPARING PHRE1 TO PHJ40                  CROSSED TO THE SAME INBRED TESTERS AND GROWN IN THE SAME EXPERIMENTS.          ALL VALUES ARE EXPRESSED AS PERCENT OF THE EXPERIMENT MEAN EXCEPT              PREDICTED RM, SELECTION INDEX, AND YIELD (BU/ACR).                                             BU       GDU                                                                               PRM                                                                               STK                                                                               TST                                                                               EST STK PLT                                                                               EAR                                                                               DRP                                      PRM                                                                               ACR                                                                               YLD                                                                               MST                                                                               SHD                                                                               SHD                                                                               LDG                                                                               WTA                                                                               CNT CNT HT HT EAR                         __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL  REPLIC.                                                                               3  3  3  3  1  2  2  3 1   4    2  2  1                          MEAN WTS                                                                              PHRE1 89 127                                                                               115                                                                               89 101                                                                               91 106                                                                               98 99  101 103                                                                               113                                                                               100                         MEAN WTS                                                                              PHJ40 92 119                                                                               108                                                                               96 102                                                                               93 114                                                                               99 101 97  104                                                                               108                                                                               100                                DIFF.  3  8  7  7  1  1  7  1 1   3    0  5                             __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 5A                                     __________________________________________________________________________     VARIETY #1 = PHRE1 HYBRID                                                      VARIETY #2 = PHR47 HYBRID                                                                           BU  BU        STK RT  STA   TST GRN   SDG                      VAR       PRM   ACR ACR MST   LDG LDG GRN   WTA APP   VGR                 DEPT #   PRM   SHD   ABS % MN                                                                               % MN  % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN  % MN                                                                               % MN  %                   __________________________________________________________________________                                                                MN                  TOTAL                                                                               1   98    97    161.7                                                                              104 94    101 102 79    99  99    104                 SUM  2   105   102   164.4                                                                              106 111   102 106 121   98  86    100                      LOCS                                                                               12    6     37  37  38    37  17  12    36  18    15                       REPS                                                                               12    7     44  44  45    44  23  12    43  21    16                       DIFF                                                                               7     5     2.6 1   18    1   4   43    0   13    4                        PROB                                                                               .000# .000# .432                                                                               .514                                                                               .000# .206                                                                               .461                                                                               .011+ .329                                                                               .011+ .541                __________________________________________________________________________                              EST   STK   PLT   EAR   DRP BRT GDU                                        VAR CNT   CNT   HT    HT    EAR STK SHD                                   DEPT #   % MN  % MN  % MN  % MN  % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               %                     __________________________________________________________________________                                                              MN                                    TOTAL                                                                               1   102   101   95    99    100 99  97                                    SUM  2   98    99    106   105   100 101 102                                        LOCS                                                                               20    45    16    16    18  2   12                                         REPS                                                                               22    57    17    17    22  2   12                                         DIFF                                                                               4     3     11    6     0   2   4                                          PROB                                                                               .010+ .008# .000# .022+ .459                                                                               .500                                                                               .000#                 __________________________________________________________________________      * = 10% SIG                                                                    + = 5%                                                                         # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 5B                                     __________________________________________________________________________     VARIETY #1 = PHRE1 HYBRID                                                      VARIETY #2 = PHJ40 HYBRID                                                                       BU  BU      STK RT   STA TST                                       VAR     PRM ACR ACR MST LDG LDG  GRN WTA                                  DEPT #   PRM SHD ABS % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN % MN                                                                               % MN                                 __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL                                                                               1   86  86  121.6                                                                              104 94  105 91   89  98                                   SUM  2   87  86  120.2                                                                              103 95  104 84   88  100                                       LOCS                                                                               25  19  76  76  79  72  6    13  79                                        REPS                                                                               25  19  142 142 148 139 14   23  148                                       DIFF                                                                               0   0   1.5 1   2   1   8    1   2                                         PROB                                                                               .245                                                                               .378                                                                               .290                                                                               .269                                                                               .103                                                                               .117                                                                               .097*                                                                               .902                                                                               .000#                                __________________________________________________________________________                GRN SDG EST STK PLT EAR  DRP BRT GDU                                       VAR APP VGR CNT CNT HT  HT   EAR STK SHD                                DEPT   #   % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN % MN                                                                               % MN                                                                               % MN                               __________________________________________________________________________     TOTAL  1   91  94  97  100 97  98   100 100 99                                 SUM    2   89  93  97  100 98  100  100 100 99                                        LOCS                                                                               61  61  65  81  53  53   50  3   35                                        REPS                                                                               119 113 132 153 99  99   96  6   69                                        DIFF                                                                               2   1   0   0   1   2    0   0   0                                         PROB                                                                               .416                                                                               .687                                                                               .701                                                                               .811                                                                               .136                                                                               .067*                                                                               .363                                                                               .700                                                                               .125                               __________________________________________________________________________      * = 10% SIG                                                                    + = 5% SIG                                                                     # = 1% SIG                                                               

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The foregoing is set forth by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a corn plant by crossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plant wherein the first or second parent corn plant is an inbred corn plant from the line PHRE1. Further, both first and second parent corn plants can come from the inbred corn line PHRE1. Thus, any such methods using the inbred corn line PHRE1 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like. It also would include more unconventional methods of combining the inbred with another such as using various culturing techniques known to those skilled in the art. All plants produced using inbred corn line PHRE1 as a parent are within the scope of this invention. Advantageously, the inbred corn line is used in crosses with other, different, corn inbreds to produce first generation (F₁) corn hybrid seeds and plants with superior characteristics.

As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which corn plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk and the like.

Duncan, Williams, Zehr, and Widholm, Planta, (1985) 165: 322-332 reflects that 97% of the plants cultured which produced callus were capable of plant regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbreds and hybrids produced 91% regenerable callus which produced plants. In a further study in 1988, Songstad, Duncan & Widholm in Plant Cell Reports (1988), 7: 262-265 reports several media additions which enhance regenerability of callus of two inbred lines. Other published reports also indicated that "nontraditional" tissues are capable of producing somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration. K. P. Rao, et al., Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, 60: 64-65 (1986), refers to somatic embryogenesis from glume callus cultures and B. V. Conger, et al., Plant Cell Reports, 6: 345-347 (1987) indicates somatic embryogenesis from the tissue cultures of maize leaf segments. Thus, it is clear from the literature that the state of the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are, and were, "conventional" in the sense that they are routinely used and have a very high rate of success.

Tissue culture of corn is described in European Patent Application, publication 160,390, incorporated herein by reference. Corn tissue culture procedures are also described in Green and Rhodes, "Plant Regeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize," Maize for Biological Research (Plant Molecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va. 1982, at 367-372) and in Duncan, et al., "The Production of Callus Capable of Plant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea Mays Genotypes," 165 Planta 322-332 (1985). Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce corn plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the inbred line PHRE1.

Corn is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material in industry. The food uses of corn, in addition to human consumption of corn kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries. The principal products of corn dry milling are grits, meal and flour. The corn wet-milling industry can provide corn starch, corn syrups, and dextrose for food use. Corn oil is recovered from corn germ, which is a by-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Corn, including both grain and non-grain portions of the plant, is also used extensively as livestock feed, primarily for beef cattle, dairy cattle, hogs, and poultry.

Industrial uses of corn are mainly from corn starch in the wet-milling industry and corn flour in the dry-milling industry. The industrial applications of corn starch and flour are based on functional properties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesive properties, and ability to suspend particles. The corn starch and flour have application in the paper and textile industries. Other industrial uses include applications in adhesives, building materials, foundry binders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds, and other mining applications.

Plant parts other than the grain of corn are also used in industry. Stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs are used for fuel and to make charcoal.

The seed of inbred corn line PHRE1, the plant produced from the inbred seed, the hybrid corn plant produced from the crossing of the inbred, hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid corn plant can be utilized for human food, livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Applicants have made available to the public without restriction a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of Inbred Corn Line PHRE1 with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Rockville, Md. 20852 USA, ATCC Deposit No. 75694. The seeds deposited with the ATCC are taken from the same deposit maintained by Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., 700 Capital Square, 400 Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 since prior to the filing date of this application. This deposit of the Inbred Corn Line PHRE 1 will be maintained without restriction in the ATCC depository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Inbred corn seed designed PHRE 1 and having ATCC Accession No.
 75694. 2. A corn plant produced by the seed of claim
 1. 3. Tissue culture of regenerable cells of PHRE1 wherein the tissue regenerates plants having the genotype if PHRE1.
 4. A tissue culture according to claim 3, the tissue culture selected from the group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, silk, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks and stalks, and cells and protoplasts thereof.
 5. A corn plant having the genotype of PHRE1 regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 3. 6. Hybrid seed produced by:(a) planting, in pollinating proximity, seeds of corn inbred lines PHRE1 and another inbred line; (b) cultivating corn plants resulting from said planting; (c) preventing pollen production by the plants of one of the inbred lines; (d) allowing natural cross pollinating to occur between said inbred lines; and (e) harvesting seeds produced on plants of the inbred line of step (c).
 7. Hybrid seed produced by hybrid combination of plants of inbred corn seed designated PHRE 1 and having ATCC Accession No. 75694 and plants of another inbred line.
 8. Hybrid plants grown from seed of claim
 7. 9. A first generation (F₁) hybrid corn plant produced by the process of:(a) planting, in pollinating proximity, seeds of corn inbred lines PHRE1 and another inbred line; (b) cultivating corn plants resulting from said planting; (c) preventing pollen production by the plants of one of the inbred lines; (d) allowing natural cross pollinating to occur between said inbred lines; (e) harvesting seeds produced on plants of the inbred line of step (c); and (f) growing a harvested seed of step (e).
 10. A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of corn plant of claim
 8. 11. A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of the corn plant of claim
 9. 